Plant Science      

 The  department offers a wide variety of courses from which a student can choose. ....

Floriculture majors will be taught those skills necessary for a successful career 
as a florist, floral designer or greenhouse operator. 

Ornamental Horticulture  majors concentrate on landscaping skills, developing 
competencies in turf management, landscape design, construction, and maintenance. 

 Natural Resources majors concentrate on those forestry and ecology skills 
necessary to develop competency in this field. 

All students enrolled in a plant science field of study are eligible to obtain certificates of 
competency in their selected majors.

                          PLANT SCIENCE DEPARTMENT COURSES  

Floriculture 

The Floriculture program at Essex Aggie is well respected within the industry .
Many of the floral shops in this area proudly claim a connection to this school either
through their owner, managers, or better designers. Students selecting this major receive
an intense exposure to annuals, perennials, bedding plants, and cut flowers. Classes cover
many topics including color theory, design mechanics and principles, holiday
arrangements, wedding and funeral work, greenhouse operation, interior landscaping, and
small business management.

Students can expect to find entry-level jobs in the greenhouse industry, interior
landscaping and in floral shops doing flower processing, design execution and funeral
work.

Students learn how to grow various types of flowering foliage plants, and actually work in 
our fully equipped and extensive greenhouses. They also learn floral design, creating arrangements throughout the year to celebrate the seasons offerings and illustrate the different designing techniques.Interior landscaping and greenhouse management are also important aspects of this major.

Ornamental Horticulture 

The trees, shrubs, grass, and flowers that we use to decorate and beautify our land also serve a useful environmental purpose. The design and maintenance of these important features is the study of Ornamental Horticulture.

Students in this major receive extensive training in lawn installation and maintenance. On our extensive grounds, they learn the proper techniques of mowing and feeding natural turf, along with planting, pruning, and maintaining shrubs and trees. Design and building of patios, walkways, and walls are studied and practiced, along with propagation and retailing of nursery stock.

Students selecting this major will take classes covering landscape maintenance, construction, and design, nursery production, woody landscape materials, perennials, irrigation installation, arboriculture and landscape equipment operation.

Many Essex Aggie students have gone on to rewarding careers as supervisors for landscape, nursery, and garden center operations. Several former students can be found across Essex County owning or managing these companies.

Natural Resources  

It is essential that we learn to manage and protect our natural resources for present and future generations. Preservation of our forests, rivers, lakes, and ponds from pollution, protecting wildlife, and management of our parks are all aspects of study in the Natural Resource major.

Graduates find any number of career options in both government and private industry. Many go to work directly with lumber companies, tree services, and municipalities. Others continue their education in the fields of park design, management, or various fields of ecology.

Students receive training in arboriculture; the cultivation of trees and shrubs. They learn climbing, pruning, and disease recognition and control. Proper chain saw use, maintenance, and safety, as well as aspects of the sawmill, lumber, and timber industries are included in the program.

Water quality testing, ecological controls, park and wildlife management, & aquaculture, complete and complement the course.

Students going into the Natural Resource area will be exposed to class material covering an aspects of forestry and forest products, tree health, chain saw operation, water ecology, wildlife habitat and identification, as well as a study of the management of
parks and recreational areas. Students will also have the opportunity to take classes in landscape construction and arboriculture.
Finding employment in the field of Natural Resources can be very competitive.
Many students looking for careers in the National or State park system seek further education beyond high school. However, employment can easily be found in related areas of arboriculture, urban forestry, and the landscape/ nursery industry .

PLANT SCIENCE  VOCATIONAL PATHWAYS

Grade 9

Survey of Plant Science 6100

This course is  an overview of the plant kingdom and a perspective on how it affects our daily lives. Through hands-on experience and required reading, students will learn the basic skills for growing and caring for plants.

Grade 10

Introduction To Floriculture 6220

This course is designed to introduce plant science students to the floriculture industry. Students will develop skills in plant propagation, identification, care of annuals and perennial plants, greenhouse care and management. Students will gain knowledge of growing structures and environmental factors affecting plant growth. An introduction to floral design will be included in this class.

Intro         Introduction To Horticulture 6240

In        Introduction To Turf Management   6247

                 This course is designed to help students develop an understand of the basics of turf management with the emphasis being placed on ornamental 

                       horticulture and basic landscape maintenance. Included in this course will be instruction on the proper operation of commercial landscaping equipment.

                      and the safety procedures required by professionals in the landscaping field as well as seeding, mowing, fertilization, aeration and irriagation 

                       techniques.

Introduction To Natural Resources 6260

This course will provide students with some of the basic skills and procedures used by forestry, fish and wildlife and water resource management technicians. These skills will introduce students to field tests, survey and investigations of the local resources. The course will also look at the rich history of the American conservation movement, beginning with the creation of Yellowstone National Park in 1872. Throughout the course we will explore the many career possibilities in these exciting fields.

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Grade 11

Floriculture Pathway 

Floral Design I  6322

The first of two floral design courses, this course is designed to teach students the basic skills and knowledge needed for entry-level employment in the field of floral design. Basic designing skills, tool identification, cut flower and foliage identification as well as basic flower shop management are among some of the topics to be studied. Emphasis is also placed on developing a strong work ethic.

Ornamental Horticulture for Floriculture   6323

This course is designed to help students develop ornamental horticulture skills. While using principles of landscape design, the course will focus on landscape establishment and maintenance skills currently used in the industry. Students will develop skills such as pruning and burlapping trees and shrubs, principles of design and identification of woody landscape and herbaceous materials.

Herbaceous Plant Materials  6324

This course will provide students with skills needed to identify, grow and maintain many varieties of herbaceous plants in the garden and the greenhouse. Planting and winterization techniques as well as selection and ordering of seeds and bulbs will be offered. Other topics such as harmful insects and diseases, transplanting and propagation, basic layout and design of a garden or greenhouse will be studied.

Gre          Greenhouse Production 6327

Grade 11

Natural Resources Pathway

Natural Resources  6362

This course will be an in-depth look at modern Natural Resource Management in the New England region. It will allow students to gain experience with tools and techniques that are used to implement these resource management plans.  Topics will include land management and marine resource management. Land management will focus on soils, geology, forestry, recreation and urbanization. Marine Resource Management will look at Massachusetts’ long fishing history and its current management practices, which includes coastline management and erosion control strategies.

Ornamental Horticulture for Natural Resources  6363

This course is required of all Natural Resource majors and will concentrate on the nursery industry, garden center operations, woody plant materials, basic landscape design as well as landscape planting and maintenance.  Students will learn about the industry through field trips to local garden centers and through visits from guests working in horticultural businesses.  

Chainsaws Operation and Maintenance  6365

This course is designed to provide students with the safety skills necessary to maintain and operate chain saws. Students will be instructed in the field on how to fell, limb and
chip trees. Classroom lab work will concentrate on disassembly, repair and sharpening of saws.

Small Engines and Hydraulics  6366

This course is intended to introduce students to small engines and hydraulic systems they may use in their various occupations. Hydraulic systems found on equipment such as snowplows, three point hitches, front-end loaders and other landscaping equipment will be studied. The focus of the small engines portion of the class is on , garden tractors , mowers and skid steer loaders.

Grade11

Ornamental Horticulture Pathway 

Ornamental Horticulture     6342

This course is required of all students majoring in Ornamental Horticulture and is an in-depth look at the garden center, landscape and nursery industry.  Students will visit local businesses to meet the owners and discuss the industry.  Landscape maintenance skills including operation of mowers and other equipment .

Herbaceous Plants  6344

This course will provide students with skills needed to identify, grow and maintain many varieties of herbaceous plants in the garden and the greenhouse. Planting and winterization techniques as well as selection and ordering of seeds and bulbs will be offered. Other topics such as harmful insects and diseases, transplanting and propagation, basic layout and design of a garden or greenhouse will be studied.

Chainsaws Operation and Maintenance  6345
This course is designed to provide students with the safety skills necessary to maintain and operate chain saws. Students will be instructed in the fieldon how to fell, limb and chip trees. Classroom lab work will concentrate on disassembly, repair and sharpening of saws.

Small Engines and Hydraulics  6346

This course is intended to introduce students to small engines and hydraulic systems they may use in their various occupations. Hydraulic systems found on equipment such as snowplows, three point hitches, front-end loaders and other landscaping equipment will be studied. The focus of the small engines portion of the class is on , garden tractors , mowers and skid steer loaders.

Grade 12

Floriculture Pathway

 Floral Design II    6422

This course will further develop the design skill of an advanced designer. Students will become competent in designs for weddings, sympathy, contemporary designs and retail pricing. Students will be expected to continue developing a professional approach to floral design.

Interior Plantscaping 6424

This course is an in-depth look into the Interior Plantscape industry.  Students will learn how to identify interior plants, recognize and diagnose problems, and develop skills in grooming and maintenance of interior plants.  They will refresh their greenhouse skills and plant propagation skills and will be responsible for maintaining on campus outside of the classroom setting.  There will be an opportunity to visit off-campus interior plantscapes. 

Small Business Management  6425

The small business course is designed to provide Floriculture majors during their Senior year with an in-depth look at many business-related topics such as formulating a business plan, marketing a product, borrowing money for business purchases, leadership and management on the job, employee relations and taxes. Students will visit local florist businesses to meet managers and owners and receive visitors from the industry in the classroom.

                Floriculture Technology 6426

Grade 12

Ornamental Horticulture Pathway

Ornamental Horticulture II   6442

This course is designed to assist students in developing advanced horticulture skills. While using principles of landscape design, the course will focus on advanced landscape establishment and maintenance skills currently used in the industry. Students will enhance their skills in pruning, burlapping trees and shrubs, the principles of design as well as identification of woody landscape and herbaceous materials. Advanced landscape maintenance and design application will be a strong focus of this course.

Arboriculture II  6446

This course is designed to introduce students to the principles and practices of Arboriculture and Urban Forestry. This course will provide students with necessary entry level skills in all phases of Arboriculture: climbing, pruning, cabling, removals and insect and disease I.D. Street tree survey’s and tree inventories of campus will also be used to show students aspects of Urban Forestry.

Landscape Construction  6445

This course is designed to instruct students in the construction of landscape projects familiar to this field. Brick walls, patios, stonewalls, concrete areas and structures formed with railroad ties will be included in the completed projects. Students will learn the fundamentals of estimating the time, materials, equipment and labor required to complete a variety of project designs.  Included in the Landscape Construction course is residential irrigation, which teaches the terminology and fundamental skills necessary to design, layout, install and maintain an effective irrigation system.  Topics to be discussed are installation of pipes, electrical circuits, pump valves and irrigation heads. Students will also learn to troubleshoot and repair drainage systems.

               Small Business Management 6447

Th                Small business course is designed to provide Horticulture students during their Senior Year with an in-depth look at many business related topics such 
                    as formulating a business plan, marketing a product or service, borrowing money for business purchases, leadership and management on the job, 
                    employee relations and taxes. Students will visit local horticulture businesses and meet the managers and owners and will be visited by guest 
                    speakers from the industry.

Grade 12

Natural Resources Pathway

Natural Resources  II   6462

This is the major course for Seniors in NR. Students will investigate the physical and chemical properties of water and will become competent in using portable test kits and global positioning systems to collect data throughout the county.  Students will also explore the areas of wildlife and outdoor recreation.

Landscape Construction   6465

This course is designed to instruct students in the construction of landscape projects familiar to this field. Brick walls, patios, stonewalls, concrete areas and structures formed with railroad ties will be included in the completed projects. Students will learn the fundamentals of estimating the time, materials, equipment and labor required to complete a variety of project designs.  Included in the Landscape Construction course is residential irrigation, which teaches the terminology and fundamental skills necessary to design, layout, install and maintain an effective irrigation system.  Off-campus projects will be planned to reflect construction projects related to parks and outdoor recreation areas.

  Arboriculture   6466

This course is designed to introduce students to the principles and practices of Arboriculture. This course will provide students with necessary entry level skills in all phases of Arboriculture: climbing, pruning, cabling, removals and insect and disease I.D. Street tree survey’s and tree inventories of campus species will also be used to demonstrate current methods of record keeping in the tree industry.

Small Business Management   6467

This small business course is designed to provide Natural Resources students, during their Senior year, with an in-depth look at many business related topics such as formulating a business plan, marketing a product or service, borrowing money for business purchases, leadership and management on the job, employee relations and taxes.  Students will visit local horticulture and tree care businesses and meet the managers and owners and will be visited by guest speakers from the industry.

Urban Forestry   6468

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